In a gripping 2023 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 encounter at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cape Verde clinched a narrow 1-0 victory against Mauritania on Monday night.
Their triumph propels them to the quarterfinals, where they await the winner between Ivory Coast and Senegal.
The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when Ryan Mendes calmly converted a late penalty, securing the win for the Blue Sharks. This victory marks a significant achievement for Cape Verde, matching their best-ever AFCON performance.
Ryan Mendes was a constant threat in the early minutes, narrowly missing the target with a deflected shot and attempting a lob that almost caught Mauritania's goalkeeper, Babacar Niasse, off guard.
Mauritania's Bodda Mouhsine had a notable attempt in the 15th minute, whipping a shot just wide from a direct free kick. The second half saw both teams trading chances, with Mauritania missing a clear opportunity around the hour mark when Souleymane Anne shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat after a powerful run from Bouna Amar.
Cape Verde intensified their pressure in the 78th minute, with Jovane's shot from the left flank forcing a sharp save from Niasse. The Mauritania goalkeeper continued to showcase his skills with an exceptional save, palming away Mendes' glancing header from a corner kick.
An 86th-minute defensive lapse by Mauritania led to a penalty for Cape Verde, with Gilson earning the spot-kick. Mendes stepped up and confidently converted, securing the 1-0 lead and ushering the Blue Sharks into the AFCON quarterfinals.
